| Collecting Absinthe Antiques II |
| Fakes & Forgeries |
This fascinating field, is a minefield for the unwary collector. 80% of what’s sold on eBay, or in flea markets in France, is
faked or incorrectly described one way or the other.
Many of the rarest absinthe spoons (and other items such as fountains and spoon-holders) have been reproduced as modern
replicas. There is nothing at all wrong with this of course - we sell replicas, clearly marked as such, ourselves. However
unscrupulous sellers occasionally try to pass them off as originals. Fortunately they are easy to recognize, and will only fool a
beginner.
More dangerous are outright fakes, made with the intention to deceive. These can be hard to distinguish from originals,
especially just on the basis of photographs. Since individual absinthe spoons can be worth several thousand dollars, the
potential for profit on the faker’s side is obvious. There are several very active makers of faked absinthe spoons in France,
who are continually refining their skills. It’s for this reason that I generally don’t post detailed guidelines for distinguishing
faked from genuine spoons on my website – I and a few French collectors did this in the past, and then found that the fakers
were improving their product and eliminating their mistakes in response to the information we had so helpfully provided them!
The danger with fakes of course is that once they get into circulation they are sold and resold, and may eventually be offered
in good faith by less knowledgeable sellers unaware that they are not the real thing.
The word “absinthe” is something of a magic bullet for a French antique dealer – it instantly increases the value of the
associated antique ten or twenty fold. So unsurprisingly, items made for use with other liqueurs of the period – quinquinas,
bitters, gentianes – are often hopefully described as absinthe antiques. Even more commonly, items made after 1920 for the
pastis market, are sold as absinthe period antiques. Almost all the so-called “absinthe fountains” on the market were in reality
made for use with pastis in the 1930’s.
So in summary, as in all fields of antique collecting, caveat emptor. Buy only from someone you trust, with the requisite
specialist expertise. As with all fields of antiques, new collectors in particular should exercise great caution in buying,
particular if they are offered what appears to be a "bargain". Rare absinthe spoons are traded within a fairly small body of
knowledgeable collectors and dealers, who are well aware of their value. A spoon from an unknown source offered at well
below market value may well be faked.
Below is a small selection of some of the more commonly found fakes and forgeries.
Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.
faked or incorrectly described one way or the other.
Many of the rarest absinthe spoons (and other items such as fountains and spoon-holders) have been reproduced as modern
replicas. There is nothing at all wrong with this of course - we sell replicas, clearly marked as such, ourselves. However
unscrupulous sellers occasionally try to pass them off as originals. Fortunately they are easy to recognize, and will only fool a
beginner.
More dangerous are outright fakes, made with the intention to deceive. These can be hard to distinguish from originals,
especially just on the basis of photographs. Since individual absinthe spoons can be worth several thousand dollars, the
potential for profit on the faker’s side is obvious. There are several very active makers of faked absinthe spoons in France,
who are continually refining their skills. It’s for this reason that I generally don’t post detailed guidelines for distinguishing
faked from genuine spoons on my website – I and a few French collectors did this in the past, and then found that the fakers
were improving their product and eliminating their mistakes in response to the information we had so helpfully provided them!
The danger with fakes of course is that once they get into circulation they are sold and resold, and may eventually be offered
in good faith by less knowledgeable sellers unaware that they are not the real thing.
The word “absinthe” is something of a magic bullet for a French antique dealer – it instantly increases the value of the
associated antique ten or twenty fold. So unsurprisingly, items made for use with other liqueurs of the period – quinquinas,
bitters, gentianes – are often hopefully described as absinthe antiques. Even more commonly, items made after 1920 for the
pastis market, are sold as absinthe period antiques. Almost all the so-called “absinthe fountains” on the market were in reality
made for use with pastis in the 1930’s.
So in summary, as in all fields of antique collecting, caveat emptor. Buy only from someone you trust, with the requisite
specialist expertise. As with all fields of antiques, new collectors in particular should exercise great caution in buying,
particular if they are offered what appears to be a "bargain". Rare absinthe spoons are traded within a fairly small body of
knowledgeable collectors and dealers, who are well aware of their value. A spoon from an unknown source offered at well
below market value may well be faked.
Below is a small selection of some of the more commonly found fakes and forgeries.
Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.
Closeup photos of a typical faked spoon. Unlike 99% of genuine spoons, this spoon is moulded, not die-stamped. Tell-tale
imperfections from the moulding can be seen in the enlarged images. Like many fakes, it's made of a soft, heavy metal with a dull
grey colour - probably a lead alloy. The poincon (moulded, not stamped as it would always be on a genuine spoon) reads "Etain"
(Tin), which doesn't correspond to the actual material used. Faked spoons like these are widely sold by unscrupulous dealers on
eBay, and in French flea markets.
imperfections from the moulding can be seen in the enlarged images. Like many fakes, it's made of a soft, heavy metal with a dull
grey colour - probably a lead alloy. The poincon (moulded, not stamped as it would always be on a genuine spoon) reads "Etain"
(Tin), which doesn't correspond to the actual material used. Faked spoons like these are widely sold by unscrupulous dealers on
eBay, and in French flea markets.
All the above faked spoons and brouilleurs are presumed made by the same manufacturer in Poitiers. They vary in quality - the spoons
are better than the brouilleurs - but are notable for their apparently aged patina. These are some of the most widely distributed fakes,
especially on eBay.
Click on the thumbnails to see enlarged images.
are better than the brouilleurs - but are notable for their apparently aged patina. These are some of the most widely distributed fakes,
especially on eBay.
Click on the thumbnails to see enlarged images.
| A faked Arthaud Feuille. |
| A faked Arthaud Feuille from another manufacturer with a faked poincon. |
Some almost comically
bad Belgian fakes.
bad Belgian fakes.
| A faked Coquille St Jacques grille. |
A new creation rather than a copy of an
original design.
original design.
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Faked absinthiana includes pyrogenes, pitchers, saucers, bottles - the only limit is the imagination of the corrupt dealer, and the
ingenuity of the faker. Faux-amis (literally false friends) is a French term referring to items - usually perforated spoons - that
look like they might be connected to absinthe, but are not.
ingenuity of the faker. Faux-amis (literally false friends) is a French term referring to items - usually perforated spoons - that
look like they might be connected to absinthe, but are not.
A bottle probably refilled and resealed in the
1940's, when old bottles were often reused
due to a post-war shortage of glassware.
Click on the images to enlarge.
1940's, when old bottles were often reused
due to a post-war shortage of glassware.
Click on the images to enlarge.
At left, three empty Pernod Fils bottles sold on eBay. Note the middle bottle
in particular. At right, the exact same bottle, offered for sale a month later,
but now sealed and filled with a mysterious greenish liquid....
Click on the images to enlarge.
in particular. At right, the exact same bottle, offered for sale a month later,
but now sealed and filled with a mysterious greenish liquid....
Click on the images to enlarge.
Click on the images to
see enlarged versions.
see enlarged versions.
A fairly widely sold faked pyrogene. Giveaways are
the unnaturally bright gold border, and the crude
application of the blue ring at the top.
the unnaturally bright gold border, and the crude
application of the blue ring at the top.
A crude fake of the famous Absinthe Delizy et Doistau
"Bulldog" pitcher. For a genuine original, see here.
"Bulldog" pitcher. For a genuine original, see here.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
These replicas, made for a dinner service sold by a Parisian department store in the 1970's and 1980's, are often sold on
eBay as authentic bistrot items from the absinthe era.
eBay as authentic bistrot items from the absinthe era.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
A dangerous faux-amis, that has confused even experienced collectors. This is a tuna or tomato server,
not an absinthe spoon. Warning signs are that the spoon is too small and too ornately worked, and
lacks the characteristic notch in the handle typical of genuine absinthe spoons.
not an absinthe spoon. Warning signs are that the spoon is too small and too ornately worked, and
lacks the characteristic notch in the handle typical of genuine absinthe spoons.
A problematic spoon. Although the downward
pointing tip is found on some genuine absinthe
spoons, the balance on the glass is wrong, and
the overall design here makes it more likely that
this is some sort of specialist server, rather than
an absinthe spoon.
pointing tip is found on some genuine absinthe
spoons, the balance on the glass is wrong, and
the overall design here makes it more likely that
this is some sort of specialist server, rather than
an absinthe spoon.
Despite the seller offering it as an absinthe spoon, this
is nothing more than an elaborate bottle-opener.
is nothing more than an elaborate bottle-opener.
A typical tuna server. These are often optimistically described as
absinthe spoons.
absinthe spoons.
An orange juice strainer, often mistaken for an absinthe brouilleur.
Genuine absinthe fountains are rare and expensive - as a result, unscrupulous or ignorant vendors frequently try and pass-off
later pastis fountains, or even worse, perfume dispensers from the 1960's, as the real thing.
Old carafes are increasingly found 'enhanced' with absinthe branding etched on the glass.
later pastis fountains, or even worse, perfume dispensers from the 1960's, as the real thing.
Old carafes are increasingly found 'enhanced' with absinthe branding etched on the glass.
A selection of perfume dispensers, made in the
1960's and '70's, and often sold today as absinthe
fountains. Not only have these dispensers nothing
to do with absinthe (or liquor of any kind), but they
cannot even be pressed into service as an
improvised fountain today - the taps are often
placed too low to fit a glass underneath, the spigot
seals are invariably plastic, and the drip, designed
to fill a perfume bottle, is usually too slow.
1960's and '70's, and often sold today as absinthe
fountains. Not only have these dispensers nothing
to do with absinthe (or liquor of any kind), but they
cannot even be pressed into service as an
improvised fountain today - the taps are often
placed too low to fit a glass underneath, the spigot
seals are invariably plastic, and the drip, designed
to fill a perfume bottle, is usually too slow.
Four faked carafes: the carafes themselves are genuine, but the etched absinthe publicity markings (which potentially increase
their value 50-fold) have been added recently. These dangerous fakes are believed to have originated in Switzerland.
Regrettably, some of them have been listed as genuine in one of the standard reference works, which has given them an entirely
spurious veneer of authenticity. Collectors should exercise great caution in buying any glassware etched with absinthe-related
markings.
their value 50-fold) have been added recently. These dangerous fakes are believed to have originated in Switzerland.
Regrettably, some of them have been listed as genuine in one of the standard reference works, which has given them an entirely
spurious veneer of authenticity. Collectors should exercise great caution in buying any glassware etched with absinthe-related
markings.
A curious coincidence: this flask has a dual mouth very
similar to some absinthe carafes, but Eau Oxygenee has
nothing to do with Cusenier's famous brand - rather, it's the
French word for hydrogen peroxide. This is a piece of
apothecary glassware, rather than an absinthe-related item.
similar to some absinthe carafes, but Eau Oxygenee has
nothing to do with Cusenier's famous brand - rather, it's the
French word for hydrogen peroxide. This is a piece of
apothecary glassware, rather than an absinthe-related item.
A small dual mouthed
'absinthe' carafe: in fact this is
an olive-oil flask, missing its
stopper.
'absinthe' carafe: in fact this is
an olive-oil flask, missing its
stopper.
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